OCCUPATIONAL STRESS, COPING STRATEGIES, AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG NURSES IN ABHA CITY Background: The nursing profession is inherently stressful, and nurses in Abha City face unique challenges due to rapid population growth and evolving healthcare needs. Objective: The purpose of the present study is to identify the correlation between “Occupational stress, coping strategies and quality of life” among nurses in Abha city. Method: The present study utilized a cross-sectional, descriptive survey, and correlational research design. A convenience sampling throughout an online questionnaire was used to recruit 411 nurses from three hospitals in Abha city, and data was collected using three validated instruments: The Expanded Nursing Stress Scale, the Brief Cope Scale, and the World Health Organization-Quality of Life Scale. SPSS version 26 was used for data analysis, including descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: Findings revealed a moderate level of occupational stress (mean score 2.31 ± 0.56 on the ENSS-59 scale), with the main sources being dealing with patients and their families (2.35 ± 0.65), uncertainty concerning treatment (2.33 ± 0.66), and discrimination (2.32 ± 0.88). Nurses employed coping strategies such as planning (2.49 ± 0.75), religion (2.47 ± 0.72), and substance use (2.45 ± 0.77), while the least adopted strategies were self-blame (2.40 ± 0.71), self-distraction (2.37 ± 0.73), and behavioral disengagement (2.32 ± 0.73). Significant associations were found between sources of occupational stress and coping strategies, such as death and dying stress source correlating with self-distraction (r=0.202), use of instrumental support (r=0.111), positive reframing (r=0.154), humor (r=0.111), religion (r=0.142), and self-blame (r=0.141). Conflict with peers as a stress source was significantly correlated with self-distraction (r=0.157), denial (r=0.158), substance use (r=0.183), use of instrumental support (r=0.130), behavioral disengagement (r=0.106), venting (r=0.121), humor (r=0.203), religion (r=0.106), and self-blame (r=0.152). A significantly negative association between occupational stress and quality of life was also identified (r=-0.451). Conclusion: Significant correlation were found between sources of occupational stress and coping strategies. The study also demonstrated a significant negative association between occupational stress and quality of life, emphasizing the need for interventions to reduce occupational stress and enhance nurses’ well-being. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 25 (2) February, 2024; 1-14.

Pandemic H1N1 influenza virus respiratory illness has become an inevitable global health concern. With antigenic drift, it becomes necessary to have drugs over tailor-made HIN1 vaccine every year. In the current study, we screened many Piperine derivative in which, N-5-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2E,4E-pentadienylpiperidine (AB05) and was further studied for anti-H1N1influenza virus activity and compared with other stains in-vitro on MDCK cell line. Initial cytotoxic doses of AB05 for the MDCK cell line were > 25µM. The results showed a dose-dependent reduction of the viral plaque’s in the adsorption assay with EC50 of 0.33 µM. The mechanism of AB05 was by inhibition of matured viral release as evaluated by the time of virus addition with incubation of 6-10 hours. With the promising H1N1 virucidal activity of AB05, we included various strains of human influenza virus to screen AB05 inhibition of Neuraminidase (NA). The result showed 70% NA inhibition in WSN (H1N1), 90% in H3N2 & Influenza B and 49% in Tamiflu resistant H1N1). Further our In silco docking studies substantiated experimental results by showing the difference in binding and cooperation between H1N1 and N3N2. Together these observations illustrate that Piperine derivative AB05 is a promising lead molecule which needs further evaluation in animal models.

To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of brucellosis in human and animal's communities in southern Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional sero-epidemiological study was conducted in Aseer and Jazan, Saudi Arabia (October 2017-October 2018). Human serum samples (n=339) were initially screened for Brucella antibodies and positive samples were further titrated for Brucella antibodies by immunocapture assay (titer of 1:320 as positive). Animal samples (n=828) were screened using the Rose Bengal test. Relationship status was dichotomized to measure and predict independent contributions to variations in human using univariate and multivariate stepwise binary logistic regression model. Results: The rate of brucellosis among the 339 human samples in the two regions was 33.9%, and the rate of acute brucellosis was 12.4%. The rate of brucellosis in animals was 4.7%. Human brucellosis among the target groups was higher in northwestern Aseer (53.3%) compared to Southeastern Aseer (25.9%) and Jazan region (20.6%). The disease was more prevalent among non-Saudi nationals (35.2%) compared to Saudis (30.5%). The rate of brucellosis among butchers and shepherds was 37.5% and 37.2%, respectively. The rate of brucellosis was 37.8% in people over 30 years of age. Our univariate analysis showed that residing in Aseer region (OR: 2.60, 95% CI: 1.50-4.40), especially residing in northwestern Aseer region (OR: 4.40, 95% CI: 2.40-7.90), frequent consumption of raw meat (OR: 2.90, 95% CI: 1.50-5.50), shepherds (OR: 2.10, 95% CI: 0.80-5.30), owning sheep (OR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.10-4.40), daily contact with animals (OR: 2.10, 95% CI: 0.75-5.80), and those > 30-year-old (OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.00-2.40) were significantly associated with increased risks of brucellosis. Our multivariate analysis further showed that residing in northwestern Aseer (OR: 9.16, 95% CI: 3.39-24.76) and having sheep (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.00-1.35) were significant and independent risks of brucellosis while residing in agricultural region (OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.10-0.78) was a significant and independent protector against brucellosis. Conclusions: The study concluded that residing in northwestern Aseer area and having animals (sheep) are associated with significantly increased risks of brucellosis.